Scottish parliament computers used numerous times to edit & improve MSPs’ Wikipedia pages
SCOTTISH Parliament computers have been used numerous times to edit MSPs’ Wikipedia pages to make them more positive.
They include deleting criticism of Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex-Cole-Hamilton, a former MSP’s “controversies” section being removed entirely and a prominent Scottish Labour politician’s page having a reference to Jeremy Corbyn taken out.
We can also reveal that bizarre amendments were made to entries for the Freemason’s Grand Lodge of Scotland, Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and a hypothetical Axis victory in World War Two.
The online encyclopaedia can be edited by anyone, but all changes are recorded with deleted information still available — and edits have been traced back to Holyrood using the Parliament’s IP address.
It is impossible to know whether these were done by MSPs or their staff, which could breach a Wikipedia ban on people or employees editing pages about themselves.
Scottish Labour MSP Paul Sweeney’s entry saw the most edits at 14, including the removal of him being appointed a shadow Scotland minister by ex-UK leader Mr Corbyn.
This was described as a “typo fix” by the person within the Holyrood building who made the change, the site shows.
The page on SNP MSP Bill Kidd has been edited six times, including the addition of his nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Mr Cole-Hamilton’s entry had criticism of his foul-mouthed outburst at a Covid-impacted committee meeting removed.
He was forced to apologise in February 2021 after he was caught swearing at the then children’s minister Maree Todd, later accepting he had “muttered something under my breath that I shouldn’t have”.
The edit removed a link to an article in The National newspaper attacking the MSP for what it said was “no apology”.
That was replaced by a reference to him writing a letter saying sorry to Ms Todd and publicly apologising in the Holyrood chamber.
Michelle Ballantyne, the former Scottish Tory MSP who defected to Reform UK to become their leader in Scotland in 2021, saw an entire “controversies” section removed.
This included outrage over her comments that people on benefits “cannot have as many children as they like” and a denial that the use of foodbanks had increased under the Conservatives.
First Minister Humza Yousaf’s name was also added to a list of “notable alumni” who undertook the International Visitor Leadership Program, which is run by the US State Department.
SNP Minister for Parliamentary Business George Adam also had his page changed.
It was edited to include a quote from the avid fan of Paisley football club St Mirren that, “I’m a just a big daft boy fae Feegie in Paisley that’s now become Minister for Parliamentary Business” as well as edits to the section on his early life.
Mr Adam told The Scottish Sun he would not know how to edit his page, adding: “I have no problems with my background as a big daft boy from Feegie being on there.”
Former SNP Minister for Children Clare Haughey was added to a Wikipedia list of “notable people” from Rutherglen, while veteran SNP MSP Christine Grahame had her name put on the list of “notable” alumni from Edinburgh University.
Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur saw his page edited twice, with one including significant amounts of information about his early school life, a trip to Mexico as a student and his time as captain of the Edinburgh University football team.
Tory MSP Jamie Greene’s page was also changed from inside Holyrood to add his work as a television executive.
Labour MSP Monica Lennon saw her biography amended to include a reference to an “emotional speech” made in Holyrood about suicide.
Those using parliamentary computers also made some non-political changes, including one which suggested American TV presenter Jerry Springer “absolutely adored Celtic FC”, an edit later reversed.
The identity of the Grand Master Mason at the Grand Lodge of Scotland was also updated to Dr Joseph Morrow, after he was “installed” in November last year.
In 2015, reports found MPs in London making similar Wikipedia edits, with references to arrests, fraud and affairs being deleted from inside Westminster.
These included former Tory minister Stephen Hammond removing a reference to his frequent use of chauffeur-driven cars, while Tory backbencher Robert Blackman’s page saw mentions of his affair taken out.
Embarrassing expenses details from Labour MPs Geraint Davies and Joan Ryan were also removed from within Westminster.
All of Holyrood’s major parties were contacted for comment.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats declined to say anything on the matter.
A spokesman for the SNP said: “It is no surprise to see the Opposition in Scotland attempting to airbrush their own controversial history and scandal from the record.
“If they spent half as much time on their constituents as they did on polishing their personal profiles, people might have a bit more respect for them.”
Last night, a Scottish Parliament spokesman said: “All Parliament- issued devices should be used for parliamentary purposes.”